Tag Archives: government

Kyrgyz Supreme Court orders retrial for Askarov

BISHKEK, JULY 12 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court ordered a retrial into the sentencing of human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov in 2010 to life in prison for involvement in a murder and for inciting ethnic hatred.

The announcement disappointed human rights activists who have said that Askarov, an ethnic Uzbek, is a political prisoner who was made into a scapegoat after fighting between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in Osh killed at least 400 people. They wanted the

Supreme Court to bow to pressure from the UN and US to release the 65-year-old Askarov.

Askarov’s case has strained relations between Kyrgyzstan and the US, which last year called him a political prisoner.

Analysts in Bishkek have told The Bulletin that the Supreme Court may give in to pressure to hold a retrial but that it would be, politically, very difficult for a court to come to a different outcome at a new trial.

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(News report from Issue No. 289, published on July 15 2016)

Tajik President appoints new FinMin

JULY 11 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon appointed former deputy Central Banker Umed Latifov to the post of finance minister, replacing Shavkat Sokhibov. Tajikistan’s economy has suffered from a regional economic downturn which has dried up worker remittances from abroad. US-educated Mr Latifov is much younger than his predecessor and has an international profile. His appointment at the Central Bank in May 2015 was his first job in Tajikistan.

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(News report from Issue No. 289, published on July 15 2016)

Kazakh city government refuses land protest

JULY 1 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — The city government of Shymkent, south Kazakhstan, said it rejected an application filed by civic activists to hold a rally against the land reform on July 6. The local government said that the activists had failed to apply on time. Although it has formally been scrapped from parliamentary debate, the proposed land reform is still a contentious issue in Kazakhstan.

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(News report from Issue No. 288, published on July 8 2016)

Kyrgyz government strips interior ministry of control over powerful units

BISHKEK, JULY 4 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Looking to subvert its growing influence ahead of a presidential election next year, the Kyrgyz government stripped the ministry of interior of some control over its most powerful units.

The reform reshuffled government units, awarding more independence to departments responsible for combating terrorism, drug trafficking and cracking down on economic crimes. The Prosecutor-General has also been stripped of its power to launch independent investigations.

Pres. Almazbek Atambayev said the reforms will strengthen the law.

“Today’s decision can be called historic. The law enforcement system reform should strengthen law and order, so that ordinary citizens, business, and investments are protected by the law,” media quoted him as saying at a government meeting.

Analysts were more circumspect. Bishkek-based political analyst Mars Sariyev said that changes looked designed to subvert an increasingly difficult-to-control security system.

“The security authorities had tried to undermine the power of some interest groups and their political ambitions,” he said.

And another, anonymous, analyst said the changes were probably linked to the departure last month of Melis Turganbayev as Kyrgyzstan’s interior minister who was considered by government ministers as manoeuvring to position himself as a potential next president.

“There is no doubt that he was a very big political figure and that he was probably forced to leave to help bring the ministry of internal affairs more under the control of the government,” he said.

Kyrgyzstan is due to hold a presidential election in 2017.

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(News report from Issue No. 288, published on July 8 2016)

Kazakhtelecom improves corporate governance ahead of a potential IPO

ALMATY, JULY 4 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Aleksander Klebanov, one of Kazakhstan’s richest men, bought a 24.47% stake in Kazakhtelecom, the state-owned telecoms company, in a move to improve corporate governance ahead of a planned IPO in London.

Mr Klebanov’s Sobrio Ltd, a London-registered shelf company, bought shares from two companies officially owned by Aigul Nuriyeva, the 8th richest Kazakh according to Forbes. She was widely perceived as holding these companies on behalf of Mr Klebanov.

Wary of past corporate governance flops, Kazakhtelecom said the transfer of shares would improve transparency ahead of an IPO.

“The deal was conducted for Kazakhtelecom ownership structure optimisation and transparency purposes in preparation for a possible IPO,” the company said in a press release.

For two years, Kazakhtelecom has mulled over an IPO in London.

Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, owns 52% of Kazakhtelecom. Earlier this year, Kazakhtelecom’s subsidiaryAltel merged with Tele2, a Swedish telecoms company, in an effort to boost its mobile profile.

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(News report from Issue No. 288, published on July 8 2016)

Kazakhstan to introduce civil service code

ALMATY, JUNE 24 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kazakhstan’s government said that it wants to introduce a code of conduct focused for its civil servants to improve their image with the public.

Maksat Musin, head of the Kazakh civil service, said in a statement on the government’s website that he wanted the new code to improve standards in general.

“The full aims of the code have not yet been set out but the general principles are already established, these are to be modest and ethical,” he said.

Kazakhstan’s government has previously tried to improve the quality and professionalism of its civil service. In 2013 it introduced a special set of exams to try and recruit a cadre of new, professional civil servants.

Still, ordinary Kazakhs were scornful of the potential decree. They said that the government was fond of making empty policy statements about improving government structures and employees which make little or no impact.

“I think it’s some kind of superficial idea to pretend that the government is doing something,” said Nurbek, an Almaty-based student. “The main problem with our government officials is corruption and this is really bad. That’s what they should be working on instead of pretending that they are doing something.”

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(News report from Issue No. 287, published on July 1 2016)

Turkmen President continues his firing spree

JUNE 26 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – On a trip to to the northern Turkmen province of Dashoguz this month, President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov continued his firing spree by sacking seven officials and reprimanding nine others, the local language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Mr Berymukhamedov has sacked dozens of government officials over the past couple of years as he looks to shift blame over an economy that continues to falter.

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(News report from Issue No. 287, published on July 1 2016)

Tajik ministers swear oath of allegiance

JUNE 22 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Under new rules, government ministers in Tajikistan will have to swear an oath of allegiance to President Emomali Rakhmon, media reported. The new rule will further boost the perceived power of Mr Rakhmon. He has been accused of building a personality cult.

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(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)

Kazakh president shuffles key government roles

ALMATY, JUNE 21 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev reshuffled several government positions, naming a new mayor for Astana and a new chief of the presidential administration, perhaps giving an indication of how he sees his succession playing out.

Former Astana mayor Adilbek Dzhaksybekov was named chief of the presidential administration, taking the place of Nurlan Nigmatullin, who was quickly made Speaker of parliament.

Mr Nazarbayev thanked and lauded both for their services.

“Mr Nigmatullin worked with me for many years with skill and professionalism, proving himself during hard times,” Mr Nazarbayev said. “Mr Dzhaksybekov has previously worked in this position, for which we need a person with experience and equilibrium.”

The head of the presidential administration is one of the most powerful positions in the Kazakh political system, marking a major promotion for the 61-year-old Mr Dzhaksybekov.

For Mr Nigmatullin, known as the “Grey Cardinal” for his deal making abilities and loyalty to Mr Nazarbayev, the position of Speaker of parliament is an important one. According to the Kazakh constitution, if Mr Nazarbayev resigns or dies in office, he will take over as president.

Importantly, too, Asset Issekeshev, former minister of innovation and development was named mayor of Astana, replacing Mr Dzhaksybekov.

Mr Issekeshev, 44, is seen as a rising star. As mayor of Astana, he will be the face of the capital city, when it hosts the EXPO next year.

Mr Nazarbayev is 75-year-old but has yet to lay out a coherent succession plan. He has ruled over Kazakhstan since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

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(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)

Kyrgyz PM changes government

JUNE 21 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kyrgyzstan’s PM Sooronbai Jeenbekov ordered changes to the ministerial structures of the government, establishing two new committees to take over responsibilities from the National Energy Holding, formerly the energy ministry, and the ministry of transport and communications). Mr Jeenbekov justified the changes as being needed to improve efficiency. His critics have said he is wasting money.

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(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)